Produce Container

ABSTRACT

A produce container including a receptacle and a lid. A mouth is circumscribed by a rim with a first bearing surface substantially parallel to a receptacle base. A first outer wall portion of the rim is folded back on and substantially perpendicular to the base. One or more first locking formations is carried on the first outer wall portion. The lid can close off the mouth and is circumscribed by a skirt with a second bearing surface substantially parallel to the base when the lid is closed. The skirt has a first inner wall portion substantially perpendicular to the base when the lid is closed. The skirt has one or more second locking formations carried on the first inner wall portion of the lid. Each second locking formation is complementary to a first locking formation. The rim includes one or more chamfered portions above the first locking formation inclined to the first bearing surface and the first outer wall portion.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Australian Application No. 2018250515, filed Oct. 19, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly relates to produce containers, particularly but not limited to those having a lid and receptacle with an engaging mechanism that facilitates interlocking of the lid with the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Produce containers are typically piled up and placed in a crate or the like for storage and transportation purposes. Those that are currently available in the marketplace have a configuration that would only allow a limited amount of containers, which are typically nested into one another, to be stacked in a pile which in turn is fitted into the crate or the like. Thus there is a need for a larger number of containers to be packed in the crate or the like in order to save space and costs.

Also, existing produce containers have locking formations which enable interlocking of the lid with the receptacle upon closing of the lid. Such containers have a shortcoming that engagement between existing locking formations provided on the lid and the receptacle is quite rough rendering the produce containers susceptible to deformation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a produce container which may meet the above need, or which may overcome or ameliorate the above shortcoming, or which will at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a produce container including:

a receptacle which defines a mouth circumscribed by a rim; the rim having a first bearing surface being substantially parallel to a base of the receptacle, a first outer wall portion being folded back on and substantially perpendicular to the base of the receptacle, and one or more first locking formations carried on the first outer wall portion; and a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid being circumscribed by a skirt, the skirt having a second bearing surface being substantially parallel to the base of the receptacle when the lid is in its closed position, a first inner wall portion being substantially perpendicular to the base of the receptacle when the lid is in its closed position, and one or more second locking formations carried on the first inner wall portion of the lid, each of the second locking formations being complementary to one of the one or more first locking formations;

wherein the rim includes one or more chamfered portions located above the first locking formation, each of the one or more chamfered portions being inclined to the first bearing surface and the first outer wall portion.

Preferably, the first bearing surface is substantially horizontal. More preferably, the first outer wall portion is substantially vertical. Even more preferably, each of the one or more chamfered portions is outwardly and upwardly facing with an upper edge adjoined to the first bearing surface and a lower edge adjoined to the first outer wall portion. As such, each of the one or more chamfered portions eases an otherwise sharp edge where the first bearing surface and the first outer wall portion meet.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the one or more chamfered portions includes a length of flat chamfer in the middle with a lark's tongue finish at both of its ends. As such, the chamfer ends short of a piece in a gradual upward curve. More preferably, the length of flat chamfer is in registry with the first locking formation.

In an alternative embodiment, each of the one or more chamfered portions is a continuous flat chamfer running along a selected or the entire length of the rim.

Preferably, each of the one or more first locking formations includes a recess. Each recess is preferred to have a slanting upper portion. More preferably, each of the one or more second locking formations includes a lug being aligned with a corresponding recess. Even more preferably, the lug includes a first tapered plane adapted to engage the corresponding inclined chamfered portion of the rim as the lid comes into contact with the mouth of the receptacle. The first tapered plane is preferred to slope from the first bearing surface towards the first outer wall portion.

Most preferably, the first tapered plane of the lug is complementary to the corresponding inclined chamfered portion so as to facilitate effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug over and beyond the lower edge of the corresponding chamfered portion into engagement with the recess where the lug is received, as the lid closes on the mouth of the receptacle. Most preferably, the effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug over and beyond the lower edge of the corresponding chamfered portion is assisted by the flexibility of the material of which the produce container is made.

Preferably, the lug includes a second tapered plane adapted to engage a slanting upper portion which forms part of the recess.

In a preferred embodiment, the produce container includes four pairs of locking formations, each pair comprising the first and second locking formations. Preferably, two pairs of the locking formations are provided along the front of the produce container. More preferably, one pair of the locking formations is provided on each of the lateral sides of the produce container.

Preferably, the first inner wall portion of the skirt is adapted to overlie and interact with the first outer wall portion of the rim to retain the lid on the receptacle when the lid is in its closed position.

Preferably, the lid includes a shoulder bounded by the skirt. More preferably, the skirt is located outwardly of the shoulder against which the first bearing surface of the rim of the receptacle bears when the lid is in its closed position.

The foregoing discussion broadly outlines certain goals and features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the detailed description that follows and to instill a better appreciation of the inventor's contribution to the art. Before any particular embodiment or aspect thereof is explained in detail, it must be made clear that the following details of construction and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many possible manifestations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention in its various aspects will now be described in connection with non-limiting embodiments described in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a produce container with the lid in a closed position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the produce container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the produce container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the produce container with the lid in an open position;

FIG. 4A is a magnified perspective view of a corner of the produce container of FIG. 1 showing a chamfered portion and a recess;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the produce container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a magnified cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3 showing the lid in an open position;

FIG. 7 is a magnified cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3 showing the lid in a closed position;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing multiple produce containers of FIG. 1 in an open position being nested into one another in a pile; and

FIG. 9 is a magnified cross sectional view showing a top corner of the pile of opened produce containers of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The produce container disclosed herein is subject to a variety of embodiments, each within the scope of the invention. However, to ensure that one skilled in the art will be able to understand and, in appropriate cases, practice the present invention, certain preferred embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described below and shown in the accompanying drawing figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a produce container 10 is shown which has a lid 12 and a receptacle 14. The receptacle 14 has four walls defining a mouth 24 circumscribed by a rim 26. The rim 26 has a first bearing surface 28 being substantially parallel to a base 30 of the receptacle 14. The rim 26 also has a first outer wall portion 32 which is folded back onto the rim 26 itself. The first outer wall portion 32 is substantially perpendicular to the base 30 of the receptacle 14. Furthermore, the rim 26 has four first locking formations being in the form of recesses carried on the first outer wall portion 32. Two of the four recesses 34 & 36 are provided in a section of the first outer wall portion 32 that runs along the front of the produce container 10. The remaining two recesses 38 & 40 are provided in two respective side sections of the first out wall portion 32. Each side section is located at the two lateral sides of the produce container 10, respectively. Each of the recesses 34, 36, 38 & 40 has a slanting upper portion 72 (see FIG. 6 for example).

Referring to FIG. 4, the lid 12 is provided to close off the mouth 24 of the receptacle 14. The lid 12 is circumscribed by a skirt 42. The skirt 42 has a second bearing surface 44 which is substantially parallel to the base 30 of the receptacle 14 when the lid 12 is in its closed position. The lid 12 has a first inner wall portion 46 which is substantially perpendicular to the base 30 of the receptacle 14 when the lid 12 is in its closed position. The lid 12 also has a shoulder 48 bounded by the skirt 42. The skirt 42 is arranged outwardly of the shoulder 48 which defines a surface 50 against which the first bearing surface 28 of the rim 26 of the receptacle 14 bears when the lid 12 is in its closed position. The skirt 42 is folded back onto itself to define a second outer wall portion 52 from which a first flange 54 extends. In the present embodiment, the skirt 42 has four second locking formations in the form of lugs 56, 58, 60 & 62 being carried on the first inner wall portion 46 of the lid 12. Each of the lugs 56, 58, 60 & 62 is complementary and correspond to one of the recesses 34, 36, 38 & 40.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 4 a, the rim 26 has a chamfered portion 60, 62, 66, 64 located above each of the recesses 34, 36, 38, 40. Each chamfered portion 60, 62, 66, 64 is inclined to the first bearing surface 28 and the first outer wall portion 32. In this embodiment, the first bearing surface 28 is substantially horizontal being substantially perpendicular to the substantially vertical first outer wall portion 32. All of the chamfered portions 60, 62, 66 & 64 have the same configuration and thus only chamfered portion 60 will be discussed in detail. As best shown in FIG. 4a , the chamfered portion 60 is outwardly and upwardly facing with an upper edge 62 adjoined to the first bearing surface 28 and a lower edge 65 adjoined to the first outer wall portion 32. As such, the chamfered portion 60 eases an otherwise sharp edge where the first bearing surface 28 and the first outer wall portion 32 meet. The chamfered portion 60 has a length of flat chamfer 64 in the middle with a lark's tongue finish at both of its ends 66 & 68. As such, the length of flat chamfer 64 ends short of a piece in a gradual upward curve. The length of flat chamfer 64 is in registry with the recess 34.

As best shown in FIG. 4, each lug 56, 58, 60, 62 is aligned with a corresponding recess 34, 36, 38, 40. Again, as all four lugs 56, 58, 60 & 62 have the same configuration, only lug 58 will be described herein in detail. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the lug 58 has a tapered plane 69 which is adapted to engage a corresponding inclined chamfered portion 60 of the rim 26 as the lid 12 comes into contact with the mouth 24 of the receptacle 14. The tapered plane 69 is configured to slope from the first bearing surface 28 towards the first outer wall portion 32. The tapered plane 69 of the lug 58 is complementary to the corresponding inclined chamfered portion 60 so as to facilitate relatively effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug 58 over and beyond the lower edge 65 of the corresponding chamfered portion 60 into engagement with the recess 34 where the lug 58 is ultimately received, as the lid 12 closes on the mouth 24 of the receptacle 14. It should be noted that the effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug 58 over and beyond the lower edge 65 of the corresponding chamfered portion 60 may be assisted by the flexible nature of the material of which the produce container 10 is made. Also, it will be appreciated that as the lid 12 is fully closed with all four lugs 56, 58, 60 & 62 squarely received within the recesses 34, 36, 38 & 40 respectively, the second bearing surface 44 of the second outer wall portion 52 of the lid 12 bears against a land 74 (see FIGS. 4 and 4A) of a step 76 provided on a second flange 78 being spaced from the first bearing surface 28. As best shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the lug 50 also has a second tapered plane 70 which is adapted to engage a complementary slanting upper portion 72 which forms part of the recess 34 when the lid 12 is in a closed position.

As described above, the produce container 10 has four pairs of locking formations, 34 & 58, 36 & 56, 38 & 62 and 40 & 60, each pair comprising the first and second locking formations. The produce container 10 has a recess formation 80 which is formed in the rim 26 of the receptacle 14. The recess formation 80 is flanked by the two pairs of the locking formations 34 & 58 and 36 & 56 which are provided along the front of the produce container 10. The other two pairs of the locking formations 38 & 62 and 40 & 60 are provided on the respective lateral sides of the produce container 10.

As best shown in FIG. 5, when the lid 12 is in its closed position, the first inner wall portion 46 of the skirt 42 is adapted to overlie and interact with the first outer wall portion 52 of the rim 26 to retain the lid 12 on the receptacle 14.

It should be noted that it is common practice to nest a plurality of produce containers into one another so as to enable them to be piled up and fitted into a crate or the like for compact storage or transportation. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, when a produce container 10 is nested into produce container 10A, the chamfered portion 60A facilitates a drop or advancement of the produce container 10 into the produce container 10A by a certain length as indicated by A-A (see FIG. 9). This drop or advancement was enabled by the slanting chamfer 64 and would not be achievable with a normal n-shaped rim. When a large number of produce containers, for example, 10, 10A, 10B . . . etc. are piled up, the saved lengths A-A, B-B . . . etc. add up allowing fitting of a larger number of produce containers in each crate or the like which leads to substantial cost savings.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in some detail, it will be apparent to a skilled person in the art that the produce container of the present invention may offer at least the following advantages:

1. it facilitates relatively effortless and imperceptible closing of the lid on the receptacle and easy and smooth engagement of the lugs with the recesses; and

2. it enables fitting of a larger amount of produce containers into a crate or the like for storage and transportation which results in substantial cost savings.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For instance, each chamfered portion may be a continuous flat chamfer running along a selected or the entire length of the rim 26. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Therefore, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded to the inventor. Those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must be further noted that a plurality of the following claims may express, or be interpreted to express, certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of structure or material. As the law demands, these claims shall be construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and material expressly described in this specification but also all equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed as deserving the protection of Letters Patent:
 1. A produce container including: a receptacle which defines a mouth circumscribed by a rim; the rim having a first bearing surface being substantially parallel to a base of the receptacle, a first outer wall portion being folded back on and substantially perpendicular to the base of the receptacle, and one or more first locking formations carried on the first outer wall portion; and a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid being circumscribed by a skirt, the skirt having a second bearing surface being substantially parallel to the base of the receptacle when the lid is in its closed position, a first inner wall portion being substantially perpendicular to the base of the receptacle when the lid is in its closed position, and one or more second locking formations carried on the first inner wall portion of the lid, each of the second locking formations being complementary to one of the one or more first locking formations; wherein the rim includes one or more chamfered portions located above the first locking formation, each of the one or more chamfered portions being inclined to the first bearing surface and the first outer wall portion.
 2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more chamfered portions is outwardly and upwardly facing with an upper edge adjoined to the first bearing surface and a lower edge adjoined to the first outer wall portion.
 3. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more chamfered portions includes a length of flat chamfer in the middle with a lark's tongue finish at both of its ends.
 4. The produce container of claim 3, wherein the length of flat chamfer is in registry with the first locking formation.
 5. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more chamfered portions is a continuous flat chamfer running along a selected or the entire length of the rim.
 6. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more first locking formations includes a recess.
 7. The produce container of claim 6, wherein each recess has a slanting upper portion.
 8. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more second locking formations includes a lug being aligned with a corresponding recess.
 9. The produce container of claim 8, wherein the lug includes a first tapered plane adapted to engage the corresponding inclined chamfered portion of the rim as the lid comes into contact with the mouth of the receptacle.
 10. The produce container of claim 9, wherein the first tapered plane slopes from the first bearing surface towards the first outer wall portion.
 11. The produce container of claim 9, wherein the first tapered plane of the lug is complementary to the corresponding inclined chamfered portion so as to facilitate effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug over and beyond the lower edge of the corresponding chamfered portion into engagement with the recess where the lug is received, as the lid closes on the mouth of the receptacle.
 12. The produce container of claim 11, wherein the effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug over and beyond the lower edge of the corresponding chamfered portion is assisted by the flexibility of the material of which the produce container is made.
 13. The produce container of claim 9, wherein the lug includes a second tapered plane adapted to engage a slanting upper portion which forms part of the recess when the lid is in a closed position.
 14. The produce container of claim 1, which includes four pairs of locking formations, each pair comprising the first and second locking formations.
 15. The produce container of claim 14, wherein two pairs of the locking formations are provided along the front of the produce container.
 16. The produce container of claim 14, wherein one pair of the locking formations is provided on each of the lateral sides of the produce container. 